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With an astounding 7,000 miles of shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay alone, Maryland has no shortage of piers where you can drop a hook or wet a dipnet. In fact, folks crab and fish everywhere around the Old Line State. From the busy Potee Street bridge, within view of downtown Baltimore’s skyline, to Point Lookout State Park, near where Captain John Smith first arrived in the New World, you can see why "Maryland is for crabs" -- as well as sea trout, rockfish, carp and more.

The Eastern Shore's Year-Round Mega Pier

If your requirements for fishing and crabbing include a site open 24/7 year-round -- with lights at night along the broad Choptank River -- try Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park. Formerly the Choptank River Fishing Piers, this pair of two long former bridges lie adjacent to Route 50, where happy vacationers hurtle on the way to Ocean City from Baltimore and D.C. You can observe osprey, deer and muskrats from either the 1-mile Talbot County portion or the half-mile Dorchester County side. Be sure to obtain a fishing license for the croakers, catfish, sea trout and perch you hope to land.

Around Baltimore

Maryland’s biggest city allows you to fish and crab at three locations without a license, but you'll need to take advantage of the free, online registration. You can head east of downtown past Harbor East and Fells Point to Canton Recreational Pier at Boston Street to dip a line. The other two spots are south of downtown. Swing southeast to Locust Point to enjoy Hull Street Recreational Pier. You can also head for Middle Branch Park, south of the Hanover and Potee Street bridges -- or join the small groups fishing from the bridges themselves.

Around Annapolis

Head for the old Route 450 bridge for license-free fishing. As with the Bill Burton Fishing Pier, this is a former bridge converted to a fishing pier. Make sure the crabbing you do -- here and around the state -- is done from April 1 to Dec. 15. You do need a license for crabbing. From a pier, you can use a dipnet or handline. You’re required to return female hard crabs and female peelers to the bay.

For Big-Time Angling

If you’re looking for a long pier that allows you to tackle offshore species -- and not a repurposed bridge -- you have at least two interesting choices. After Superstorm Sandy and 2014's unremitting winter storms took a toll in Ocean City, the bridge once measuring close to 600 feet now takes you around 489 feet out into the Atlantic. Here you can try for striped bass, sea trout and skate and rays.

The punishment to the Ocean City Pier leaves the massive pier at Point Lookout State Park angling for title as state champ, at 710 feet long. The pier stands north of the meeting point of the Chesapeake and the Potomac River. You’ll need a sport fishing license and must pay the park entrance fee. Fishing at the pier is allowed 24 hours a day, April 1 to Dec. 30.

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About the Author

An award-winning writer and editor, Rogue Parrish has worked at the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun and at newspapers from England to Alaska. This world adventurer and travel book author, who graduates summa cum laude in journalism from the University of Maryland, specializes in travel and food -- as well as sports and fitness. She's also a property manager and writes on DIY projects.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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